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A visual history · Grammys

The winners who defined Pop Vocal (Male).

52 ceremonies, 1959–2011. 31 different winners. The longest run belongs to Frank Sinatra, with 2 straight wins.

Who won most recently?
Bruno Mars in 2011 for Just the Way You Are.
Who has won the most?
John Mayer, Stevie Wonder and Sting, tied on 4 wins each.
  1. Just the Way You AreBruno Mars
  2. Make It MineJason Mraz
  3. SayJohn Mayer
  4. What Goes Around... Comes AroundJustin Timberlake
  5. Waiting on the World to ChangeJohn Mayer
  6. From the Bottom of My HeartStevie Wonder
Years explored
1959–2011
Different winners
31
Category leader
John Mayer · 4
About this record

It was awarded for the last time in 2011.

The Academy dropped the male and female distinction in its 2012 restructuring and ran one solo award instead.

From 2012 the Grammys awarded Best Pop Solo Performance instead.

2000–2011

12 ceremonies

19592011

01 / The reigns

Sting set the longest run.

The timeline turns the 2000–2011 record into a sequence of reigns. Longer bands reveal sustained runs; color shows the credited label.

  1. 01
    John Mayer4 wins
  2. 02
    Justin Timberlake2 wins
  3. 03
    Sting2 wins
Each band is one winner’s reign. Wider means a longer run. Colored by label; hover for details.
Sting'00–'01×2
James Taylor'02
John Mayer'03
Justin Timberlake'04
John Mayer'05
Stevie Wonder'06
John Mayer'07
Justin Timberlake'08
John Mayer'09
Jason Mraz'10
Bruno Mars'11

02 / The power map

Who stood behind the winners?

Sony leads the recorded label credits with 4 wins, 2000–2011. The full distribution shows whether power was concentrated or shared.

Sony4 wins
Warner3 wins
A&M2 wins
Aware2 wins
Universal1 win
Wins by label
  1. Sony433%
  2. Warner325%
  3. A&M217%
  4. Aware217%
  5. Universal18%

03 / The near misses

The names that kept coming back without the ending they wanted.

Counting nominations in this category only, 2000–2011.

Most nominated, never won this award

  1. 01
    Paul McCartney
    4 noms
  2. 02
    Seal
    4 noms
  3. 03
    Brian McKnight
    2 noms
  4. 04
    Craig David
    2 noms
  5. 05
    Elton John
    2 noms
  6. 06
    John Legend
    2 noms

Most losses in this category

  1. 01
    Paul McCartney
    4L · 0W
  2. 02
    Seal
    4L · 0W
  3. 03
    Brian McKnight
    2L · 0W
  4. 04
    Craig David
    2L · 0W
  5. 05
    Elton John
    2L · 0W
  6. 06
    James Taylor
    2L · 1W

04 / The archive

Every year.
Every winner.

The complete reference behind the story, showing 2000–2011. Open any year to see the rest of the field when nominee records are available.

YearWinnerLabel
2011Bruno Mars (Just the Way You Are)
beat 4 others
  • Michael Bublé (Haven't Met You Yet)
  • Michael Jackson (This Is It)
  • Adam Lambert (Whataya Want from Me)
  • John Mayer (Half of My Heart)
Elektra/Atlantic
2010Jason Mraz (Make It Mine)
beat 4 others
  • John Legend (This Time)
  • Maxwell (Love You)
  • Seal (If You Don't Know Me by Now)
  • Stevie Wonder (All About the Love Again)
Atlantic
2009John Mayer (Say)
beat 5 others
  • Kid Rock (All Summer Long)
  • Paul McCartney (That Was Me)
  • Jason Mraz (I'm Yours)
  • Ne-Yo (Closer)
  • James Taylor (Wichita Lineman)
Aware/Columbia
2008Justin Timberlake (What Goes Around... Comes Around)
beat 4 others
  • Michael Bublé (Everything)
  • John Mayer (Belief)
  • Paul McCartney (Dance Tonight)
  • Seal (Amazing)
Jive/Zomba
2007John Mayer (Waiting on the World to Change)
beat 4 others
  • James Blunt (You're Beautiful)
  • John Legend (Save Room)
  • Paul McCartney (Jenny Wren)
  • Daniel Powter (Bad Day)
Aware/Columbia/Sony
2006Stevie Wonder (From the Bottom of My Heart)
beat 4 others
  • Jack Johnson (Sitting, Waiting, Wishing)
  • Paul McCartney (Fine Line)
  • Seal (Walk on By)
  • Rob Thomas (Lonely No More)
Motown
2005John Mayer (Daughters)
beat 4 others
  • Elvis Costello (Let's Misbehave)
  • Josh Groban (You Raise Me Up)
  • Prince (Cinnamon Girl)
  • Seal (Love's Divine)
Columbia/Aware
2004Justin Timberlake (Cry Me a River)
beat 4 others
  • George Harrison (Any Road)
  • Michael McDonald (Ain't No Mountain High Enough)
  • Sting (Send Your Love)
  • Warren Zevon (Keep Me in Your Heart)
Jive
2003John Mayer (Your Body Is a Wonderland)
beat 4 others
  • Craig David (7 Days)
  • Elton John (Original Sin)
  • Sting (Fragile (Live))
  • James Taylor (October Road)
Columbia/Aware
2002James Taylor (Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight)
beat 4 others
  • Craig David (Fill Me In)
  • Michael Jackson (You Rock My World)
  • Elton John (I Want Love)
  • Brian McKnight (Still)
Warner Bros.
2001Sting (She Walks This Earth)repeat
beat 4 others
  • Marc Anthony (You Sang to Me)
  • Don Henley (Taking You Home)
  • Ricky Martin (She Bangs)
  • Brian McKnight (6, 8, 12)
A&M
2000Sting (Brand New Day)
beat 4 others
  • Marc Anthony (I Need to Know)
  • Lou Bega (Mambo No. 5)
  • Andrea Bocelli (Sogno)
  • Ricky Martin (Livin' la Vida Loca)
A&M